Today's dishwashers are more energy efficient, but finding one that's reliable, affordable and great at cleaning isn't easy. Consumer Reports carried out a survey and tested various dishwashers to find the ones that perform the best and are the most reasonably priced.
"We surveyed more than 100,000 of our readers who bought a dishwasher in the last five years and found a problem with a big-name brand: LG," Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman of Consumer Reports said.
The survey found that 23 per cent of LG dishwashers needed repairs.
In its cleaning tests, Consumer Reports' technicians dirtied hundred of dishes, cups and cutlery with peanut butter, tomato sauce and baked-on brownie mix. Every machine was filled with the same tough load.
An ASKO dishwasher couldn't always handle it, despite its three-hour cleaning cycle. Raspberry seeds often clogged its spray arm and filter so the dishes didn't come clean.
Consumer Reports determined that Bosch dishwashers have a good record of reliability. They recommend a $1,000-model for its excellent cleaning.
If you're looking to save a little money, the Kenmore dishwasher model 1374-2 sold at Sears for $800 is a Consumer Reports' best buy. Although it's a little less energy efficient than the Bosch, it does an excellent job of cleaning.
Depending on how you load your dishwasher, you could make your current one work better without spending cash on a new one. Check your owner's manual for loading tips.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
